32°32′31.87″N117°01′46.63″W / 32.5421861°N 117.0296194°W /32.5421861; -117.0296194
San Diego–Tijuana | |
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 Interactive Map of San Diego–Tijuana urban area | |
| Countries |
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| State | |
Largest city
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| Principal cities |
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| Area | |
| 6,194 sq mi (16,040 km2) | |
| Elevation | 0 – 6,533 ft (0 – 1,991 m) |
| Population (2012 est.)[2] | |
| • Density | 1,020/sq mi (394/km2) |
| • Urban | 5,456,487 |
| • Metro | 4,922,723[1] |
| GDP | |
| • San Diego | US$295.6 billion |
| • Tijuana | US$32.4 billion |
| • San Diego–Tijuana | US$328.0 billion |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
San Diego–Tijuana is an internationaltransborder agglomeration,[5] straddling the border of the adjacentNorth American coastal cities ofSan Diego, California, United States, andTijuana, Baja California, Mexico. The 2020 population of the region was 5,456,577, making it the largest bi-nationalconurbation shared between the United States and Mexico, and the second-largest shared between the US and another country.[1] The conurbation consists ofSan Diego County, (2020 population 3,298,634)[6] in the United States and themunicipalities ofTijuana (2020 pop. 1,922,523),Rosarito Beach (126,980), andTecate (108,440) in Mexico. It is the third-most populous region in the California–Baja California region, smaller only than the metropolitan areas ofGreater Los Angeles and theSan Francisco Bay Area.
San Diego–Tijuana traces its European roots to 1542, when the land was explored byPortuguese explorers on behalf of theSpanish Empire. In 1601, it was mandated by the Spanishviceroy inMexico City that safe ports be found, one of which would beSan Diego Bay, for ships of theManila galleon.[7] During this mission, explorerSebastián Vizcaíno was also told to map the California coast in great detail, leading to the further exploration of the modern-day site of San Diego–Tijuana.[7] Since 2010, statewidedroughts in California and in northern Mexico have further strained the San Diego–Tijuana binational region'swater security.[8]
The metropolitan region is host to 13 consulates for several countries.[9][10] Over fifty million people cross the border each year between San Diego and Tijuana; it is the busiest land-border crossing in the Western Hemisphere.[11] Since the implementation of theNorth American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, San Diego–Tijuana has become a dominant commercial center in the United States and Mexico.[12] The economic success ofglobalization has allowed San Diego–Tijuana to grow to the third richest region in the formerCalifornias region, with aGDP of $136.3 billion in 2002.[13][14] Tourism is a leading industry in the region and its coastal environs have been paramount factors in the growth ofaction sports–lifestyle companies; other key industries include military,biotech, and manufacturing.
TheKumeyaay, referred to as Diegueño by the Spanish, are the original inhabitants ofSan Diego County and northernBaja California.[15] The Kumeyaay lived in this region for over 10,000 years ashunter-gatherers andhorticulturists.[15] The boundaries of the Kumeyaay lands once extended from the Pacific Ocean, south toEnsenada, Baja California, east into theImperial Valley and north toWarner Springs.[15] TheLuiseño, or Payómkawichum, also had a presence in modern-dayNorth County San Diego.
Western exploration of the Californias dates back to the 16th century when in 1535Hernán Cortés first visited the Baja California Peninsula in his search forCalafia.[16] Subsequent exploration in 1542 byJuan Rodríguez Cabrillo brought the western explorers to what is now the California-Baja California region. Cabrillo first namedSan Diego,San Miguel.Initial expeditions by the west to the Californias were followed by pacification and conversion efforts by the Spanish Empire and the Catholic Church. The first Catholic religious order to visit the region was theJesuits in 1683, followed by theFranciscans in 1768, and theDominicans in the 1770s.[16] The California mission system is a reminder of the Pacific Coast's colonial era.
In 1769 FatherJunípero Serra founded San Diego after occupying the Kumeyaay village ofKosa'aay and created the first of theCalifornia missions,Mission San Diego de Alcalá.[17][18] The Valley of Tijuana was explored the same year byJuan Crespí.[19] In 1829Santiago Argüello, aCalifornio and a major Mexican land grant ranchos owner, obtained ownership of a parcel of land known asRancho Tía Juana and in 1889 was Tijuana officially founded on this parcel when descendants of Argüello andAgustin Olvera, an earlyLos Angeles pioneer, agreed to develop the city.
The metropolitan region was historically united as part of the province ofAlta California under theViceroyalty of New Spain. In 1821, Mexico won its independence from the Spanish crown and kept the area under the jurisdiction of Alta California. From the late 1860s Mission lands were granted asranchos to Californio gentry. These distributions of lands accelerated after the Missions weresecularized in 1833, ending the dominance of the Missions in the economy.San Diego Bay became a port of call forwhalers andhide traders from the United States.
The region started depopulating, as settlements in the region began to be raided between 1836 and 1842 by the Kumeyaay resistance, with bothRancho Tía Juana (1839) and San Diego (~1840 & 1842) raided during that period.
In 1846, theMexican–American War began and the United States continued to expand its borders under the doctrine ofManifest Destiny. As the war came to California, theBattle of San Pasqual was fought in the northern areas of modern-day San Diego. In 1848 the war ended with theFall of Mexico City and boundaries were redrawn which created a border between San Diego and Tijuana, 3 miles (4.8 km) south ofSan Diego Bay. 1919 saw the implementation ofProhibition and the rapid growth of Tijuana tourism. Americans flocked to the city, which had become a major destination for theHollywood elite, which led to the construction of theAgua Caliente Tourist Complex which in turn spurred the rise of hotels and overall growth in the city.[16]
San Diego–Tijuana urbanity stretches along the coastline from the northernmost city of Oceanside to the southernmost city of Rosarito Beach. The urban area of San Diego–Tijuana is the72nd largest in the world and 11th largest in North America, with a population of 5,330,000.
The highest population densities are located in the San Diego neighborhoods ofUniversity City,La Jolla,Mission Valley,Pacific Beach[20] thedowntown San Diego district of theEast Village among others, and areas of Tijuana. An area of 116 census tracts in theNorth County region of the conurbation has a population of 615,092 and a per capita income of $44,131 which is about 50 percent more than that of California and the entire United States.[21] This area contains nearly all of the area located in the cities of Carlsbad,Encinitas,Solana Beach, andDel Mar. A part of this region are the communities ofRancho Santa Fe,Carmel Valley and La Jolla which have consistently been among the ranks of some of the richest neighborhoods in the United States.[22]
Outside of the urban centers, older regions of San Diego County south of theSan Diego River, as well as La Jolla and Pacific Beach, are built on a street grid. Suburban growth north of the San Diego river were built as master planned suburban communities on top of mesas with the "city of villages" concept in mind, built around car-dependency. Tijuana's suburban landscape is made up densely packed low-density mixed land uses, with patches of street grids east of the city and more organic growth influenced by topography. Cities like Tecate and Rosarito are built on street grid systems.
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The metropolitan region is situated along thePacific coast, on the border between the United States and Mexico.[23] The region lies just south ofOrange County and west ofImperial County, and shares borders withGreater Los Angeles. The area has a varied topography with over seventy miles of coastline and snow-capped mountains that rise to the northeast, in San Diego County. The terrain includes flood plains, canyons, steep hills, andmesas.[24] The region has its eastern terminus in theColorado Desert andImperial Valley regions, where another conurbation –Mexicali–Calexico – is formed. The urbanized area where San Diego and Tijuana meet is known asSan Ysidro on the American side of the border and Colonia Federal/Colonia Libertad on the Mexican side. East from the coast ten miles (16 km), the Tijuanense boroughs ofMesa de Otay andCentenario are heavy urbanized whereas the corresponding American area ofOtay Mesa is composed of primarily dispersed industrial and distribution facilities. At the Pacific Ocean region of the border, the border is urbanized on the Mexican side while the adjacent American side is inTijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, and thus not urbanized.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, San Diego County has a total area of 4,526 square miles (11,720 km2), of that 4,200 square miles (11,000 km2) of it is land and 326 square miles (840 km2) of it (7.20%) is water. The area of Tijuana Municipality is 339.5 square miles (879 km2); the municipality includes part of theCoronado Islands, located off the coast of the municipality in the Pacific Ocean. This combined area, with the additional areas of Tecate, 1,188.8 square miles (3,079 km2), and Rosarito Beach, 198.2 square miles (513 km2), place the area of San Diego–Tijuana at 6,252.5 square miles (16,194 km2).
San Diego is by far the most populated county though population density is much higher in the immediate border area adjacent to the south in Baja California than it is in San Diego County. Urban growth is currently developing regions to the east of Tijuana Municipality and south of Rosarito Beach, where developers are building many new residential communities while in San Diego it is observed to the northeast along theInterstate 15 corridor toTemecula andMurrieta.
GreaterEnsenada is more frequently than not considered part of the region given its proximity and inter-connectivity with the metropolitan area. While it is ninety and seventy-four miles (145 and 119 km) from the cities of San Diego and Tijuana respectively, recent developments between the port city and Rosarito Beach including upscale,Americanized subdivisions and resorts such as Punta Azul,Baja Mar, andLa Salina have greatly increased theurbanity of the corridor between Rosarito Beach and Ensenada. Transportation infrastructure increasingly binds the region, as the under-construction Ensenada International Airport is expected to serve as the third major airport of the metropolitan region, offering flights to Europe, South America, and East Asia.[25]
San Diego–Tijuana straddles aMediterranean climate andsemi-arid climate area.[26] The Mediterranean climate is characterized by generally warm, dry summers on the near coastal regions with a slight temperature increase westward, and relatively cool, mild, wet winters; this is the climate that dominates northern San Diego–Tijuana. In southern San Diego–Tijuana, the semi-arid climate is observed, though characteristics of the Dry-Summer Subtropical Mediterranean climate are present, with most of the annual precipitation falling in the winter.[27] ThePeninsular Ranges assist in containing moisture to the coastal areas and create arain shadow to the east as they are west-facing mountains.[28]
The climate of the area often varies significantly due to the abundance ofmicroclimates characterizing the region. San Diego–Tijuana's topography, bays, coastal hills, mountains, canyons and gorges maintain their own climates while being relatively near to each other. During the May gray andJune gloom seasons, a dense cloak of coastal clouds, known asmarine layer, covers the coastal areas, keeping the area cool and moist to up to 5–10 miles (8.0–16.1 km) inland. This coastal cloud cover is frequently observed reaching as far inland asPoway and in some cases,San Diego Country Estates. Yet once outside this cloud, the weather in sharp contrast can be warm and sunny.[29] In some cases, June gloom lasts into July, creating cloudy skies over the coastal regions for entire days.[30]
An example of the regional temperature fluctuations is shown in the varying averages of downtown San Diego, averaging January lows of 50 °F and August highs of 78 °F;El Cajon, just 10 miles (16 km) northeast of downtown San Diego, averaging January lows of 42 °F and August highs of 88 °F; Tijuana, averaging January lows of 45 °F and August highs of 78 °F.[30][31][32] The differences are even more observed in North County, where coastalOceanside maintains an average January low of 45 °F and August highs of 73 °F, while inlandEscondido maintains average January lows of 42 °F and August highs of 89 °F.[33]
San Diego–Tijuana is also subject toEl Niño weather events. In extreme cases, the overwhelming fall ofrain createsmudslides and greatly increases the flow ofurban rivers. This sudden influx of water has the potential to flood populated places and drown out wetland habitat; measures have been taken to reduce this potential negative affect while simultaneously restoring the rivers and their watersheds to a pristine and natural state.[34][35]
This regional climate supports achaparral and woodlandsecoregion that is further divided in three sub-regions where two are observed in San Diego–Tijuana.[36] These are thecoastal sage and chaparral andmontane chaparral and woodlandsecoregions. In the montane region, fire serves a unique purpose as a medium of change, and while fire typically can threaten urban development, it is essential for the historically annual cleanse of the woodlands and reproduction ofpyrophytes.
Southerncoastal sage scrub is further observed on the coast.[37] This is an ecoregion with extremely high levelsbiodiversity where itsendemic species are endangered by human encroachment.[37] In thisterrestrial ecoregion, the coastal lowlands are within a semi, semi-arid Mediterranean climate, inhabited by low-growing aromatic, anddrought-deciduousshrubs.
In the water, theIntertidal,estuary andkelp forestbiomes dominate the aquatic world; home to an equally diverse set of flora and fauna. The cool nutrient-rich waters of thenorth Pacific are able to provide kelp forests with millions ofplankton – the base of theaquaticfood chain – due to an upwelling of water from the deep sea in the stormy, winter months.
Trees of San Diego–Tijuana includedchamise,scrub oak,manzanita,live oak,lodgepole pine,black oak andclosed-cone pine forests. Lowlandshrubs includedCalifornia sagebrush,black sage,white sage,California buckwheat, as well ascacti andsucculents.
Terrestrial mammals included themountain lion,bobcat,bighorn sheep,mule deer as well as a variety ofrodents andlagomorphs including theCalifornia ground squirrel,San Diego kangaroo rat, andbrush rabbit.Black bears,jaguars andsea otters historically populated the area, but their range has been restricted by human encroachment and the jaguar and the sea otter are now rarely, if ever, observed. Aquatic mammals included thegray whale, a seasonal migratory animal, as well as thebottlenose dolphin,great white shark,killer whale, andCalifornia sea lion and on rare occasion,Guadalupe fur seal. In recent times the region has seen the rebound ofartiodactyls such as the Peninsular bighorn sheep, adistinct population segment of thedesert bighorn sheep.[38]
Reptiles includeolive ridley sea turtle,western fence lizard, variousrattlesnake species and species ofblind snake andgopher snake. Amphibians included thebarred tiger salamander andCalifornia tree frog. With a mostly arid climate, reptile species outnumber amphibians by a margin of seven to one.[39]
Bird species popular to the region are theCalifornia quail,California condor,California least tern,peregrine falcon andgolden eagle. Introducedparrot species such as thered-crowned amazon parrot have also been found living and breeding in San Diego County and parts of Tijuana Metro.[40]
The waters off of the coast of San Diego–Tijuana are densely populate by the denizens of thekelp forests. Kelp forests are found to a great extent and are populated byGaribaldi,leopard sharks,gobies,rockfish, andsculpins.Great white sharks have been observed in the waters off the coast, while there are numerous documentations of their occurrence in the waters offGuadalupe Island.[41] From the confines of the forests, ocean-going species such as theOcean sunfish are observed.
Environmental research in climate and biodiversity is conducted at theScripps Institution of Oceanography and by the Biodiversity Research Center of the Californias of theSan Diego Natural History Museum.
The land on which San Diego–Tijuana sits is due west of a majortransform fault. The transform fault, known as theSan Andreas Fault was created during theCenozoic by the movements of thePacific plate and theNorth American plate. The region experiences earthquakes and felt the shocks of the2009 Gulf of California earthquake and2010 Baja California earthquake.[42][43]
The main mountain ranges of thePeninsular Ranges ridging eastern San Diego–Tijuana isPalomar Mountain, theLaguna Mountains,Sierra de Juárez, and the peaks of the Cuyamacas includingCuyamaca Peak. The highest points are located in the Lagunas at 6,378 feet (1,944 m) and in the Cuyumacas at 6,512 feet (1,985 m) while the highest is the peak ofHot Springs Mountain at 6,535 feet (1,992 m).[44][45] These mountain ranges constitute part of theSalinian Block, a largelygraniticterrane dating back to theMesozoic era and thus explaining the abundance of such stone throughout the region. Once part of the North American Plate, the Salinian block broke off due to the formation of the San Andreas Fault and rift resulting in theGulf of California and its extension of theSalton Trough.
The faults nearest the urban area are theElsinore andLaguna Salada faults, both secondary to the San Andreas fault.
The region is set with many natural coastalharbors,estuaries,inlets,lagoons, andbays. These included the major water bodies known as:
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,245,397 | — | |
| 2000 | 4,129,433 | 27.2% | |
| 2010 | 5,105,769 | 23.6% | |
| historical data source:[46] | |||
The populace of the San Diego–Tijuana iscosmopolitan in that many cultures and ethnic groups are present. A large transitory population exists due to Tijuana's border proximity to the United States. This location draws manyLatin Americans,[47] includingArgentines,Cubans,Guatemalans, andAndean nationalities, as well as Chinese,Korean, and Japanese people;Italian, French, Spanish andLebanese also reside in the region. With a population of approximately five million people, the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area accounts for 40% of the United States – Mexico border population.[48] The metropolitan area experiences the largest rates of growth in an urban area that stretches from Los Angeles to Tijuana.[48] An analysis of age groups in the region found a relatively older population lives on the San Diegan side of the border while a relatively younger population the Tijuana side.[48] The Tijuana region also maintains a population largely composed of people born outside of Baja California.[48]
San Diego is located at32°42′N117°09′W / 32.700°N 117.150°W /32.700; -117.150, just north of Tijuana. The city is divided into eight districts by the municipal government of the City of San Diego in accordance with policing and community service areas.[49] The city lies south ofNorth County, and west ofEast County, while also being north of parts ofSouth Bay. Though the city boundaries grace Tijuana's,Centre City lies approximately 18 miles (29 km) north of Tijuana. San Diego has deep canyons separating its mesas, creating small pockets of natural parkland scattered throughout the city. This makes San Diego a hilly city. TheCoronado andPoint Loma peninsulas separate San Diego Bay from the ocean.
Tijuana is located at32°31′N117°01′W / 32.517°N 117.017°W /32.517; -117.017, just south of San Diego. The city is divided intonine administrative boroughs, which are in turn divided intoneighborhoods. These boroughs offer administrative services such asurban planning,civil registry, inspection, verification,public works and community development, served by a delegate. As Tijuana ranks higher in the Mexicanurban hierarchy than San Diego does in the American urban hierarchy, Tijuana contains manyforeign consulates including those of China, Korea, Finland, the United States, Germany, Spain, Honduras, France, Austria, Gambia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Israel, Canada, and the Czech Republic. Tijuana does not receive competition from a larger urban center as San Diego does from Los Angeles. However, withMexicali growing rapidly, a possible canal project planned andSilicon Border development under way, Tijuana will soon face similar competition.
Population figures for California cities are from 2010 U.S. Census data.[50] Population figures for Baja California cities are from 2010 INEG census data.[51]
The international border between the United States and Mexico runs from San Diego–Tijuana eastward towards theGulf of Mexico. The Pacific Ocean terminus of the border was defined as a line passing from the confluence of theColorado andGila rivers (now the southeastern corner of the U.S. State of California) to the Pacific Ocean such that it would pass one Spanish league south of the southern end of San Diego Bay. This ensured that the United States received the natural harbor at San Diego.
There are three existing border crossings in San Diego–Tijuana, with two more planned.San Ysidro/El Chaparral is the busiestborder crossing in the world;[52] In 2019 alone, more than 77.2 million people entered the U.S. through this port.[53] There are maximum 30 vehicle border crossing lanes at the San Ysidro Port of Entry into the United States and 6 or 8 lanes into Mexico from San Ysidro.[54] The San Diego/Tijuana border is also a major point of entry fortrafficking, where 50 brothels of trafficked Mexican girls exist in San Diego County.[55]
The majority of cross-border trips into the United States are those made bycommuters into the Greater San Diego area andSouthern California as a whole. There is a thriving reverse traffic for entertainment in Tijuana and affordablegoods and services.
The San Ysidro port of entry is the main border crossing for non-commercial traffic. Crossing times are notoriously slow at San Ysidro, particularly for those entering the U.S. in cars.[54] Given delays frequently experienced upon entry to Mexico, many cross-border travelers choose to cross on foot.[54] Infrastructure on both sides of the border delivers travelers and commuters to border crossings via respectivepublic transportation systems of which includes theSan Diego TrolleyBlue Line that runs from downtown San Diego to the border crossing.
Leading industries in San Diego–Tijuana are trade, services, electronics, tourism, life sciences, high-tech and defense sectors.[56] In 2002 San Diego and Tijuana had agross regional product of $136.3 Billion;[56] and in 2007 this figure increased to $176 Billion.[57] The greater San Diego area has aknowledge-based economy that is only growing; Tijuana's sub-metropolitan region is reliant on a diversified manufacturing sector.[13] Leading private employers to the metropolitan region areQualcomm,SAIC,Sempra Energy,Sony,Kyocera,Pfizer Global Research & Development,Callaway Golf,Sharp HealthCare,Scripps Health,Sanyo,Hitachi,Panasonic Corporation,Samsung,Hyundai,Mattel,Honeywell,Pioneer Corporation,Maxell, Douglas Furniture, andInternational Rectifier.[56]
On the 2020Globalization and World Cities classification, San Diego was rated as Beta - level global city up from Gamma level, while Tijuana was rated as a high sufficiency city.
The economy of the urban area is influenced by thePort of San Diego which gives the region a strong maritime sector; the conurbation is the location of the only major submarine and shipbuilding yards on theWest Coast and of the largestnaval fleet in the world. The cruise ship industry, which is the second largest in the California-Baja California region, generates an estimated $2 million annually from the purchase of food, fuel, supplies, and maintenance services.[58] In California alone, the port is the fastest-growing port in terms of cruise ship dockings and the second largest behind thePort of Los Angeles.[58]
Manufacturing accounts for a large part of the regional economy more-so observed in Tijuana.[13] The focus of manufacturing in the region is onsoft andhard technological products.[59] In metropolitan Tijuana, manufacturing has historically allotted for a large sector of the economy[60] and San Diego County's economy has increasingly focused on manufacturing which 2002 allotted for $25 billion of the county's economic income.[61] The 2000s decade saw Tijuana overtake theTwin Cities asmedical device manufacture capital of North America.[62] The amount of diverse and numerous manufacture companies in the area have made the metropolitan region one of the world's largest concentrated manufacturing areas.[59]
San Diego–Tijuana is ground zero for a transborder tech sector.[63] Engineers and entrepreneurs in the entirety of the border region are fueling the growth of this economic industry in which a symbiotic relationship exists between think-tanks in the north and manufacturing heads in the south that creates a healthy environment for startup companies.[63] San Diego alone was rated by Forbes in 2014 as one of the best places to start a tech company.[64]
Several areas of San Diego are home to offices and research facilities for numerous biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical companies. AmongAmerican metropolitan areas, metropolitan San Diego is the third largest concentrated area of high technology and biotechnology businesses.[61] The presence of theUniversity of California, San Diego and other research institutions helped fuel biotechnology growth. In June 2004, San Diego was ranked the top biotech cluster in the U.S. by theMilken Institute.[65] San Diego is home to companies that develop wireless cellular technology.Qualcomm Incorporated was founded and is headquartered in San Diego; Qualcomm is the largest private-sector technology employer (excluding hospitals) in San Diego County.[66] Due to San Diego's military influence, major national defense contractors, such asGeneral Atomics andScience Applications International Corporation (SAIC), are or have been headquartered in San Diego.
Business districts include theColumbia district ofdowntown San Diego,downtown Tijuana,Rancho Bernardo,Carmel Valley,Mission Valley,Sorrento Mesa, andUniversity City neighborhoods of San Diego. Notability among business districts extends to Rancho Bernardo, the site ofSony US corporate headquarters.[67]
Tourism is a major industry of the region, owing much to the area's mildMediterranean climate. Tijuana alone is the most visited city in theWestern Hemisphere, second only toNew York City.[68] 50,000,000 people visit the city each year and about 300,000 visitors cross by foot or car from theSan Ysidro point of entry to Tijuana every day.[68] TheSan Diego Zoo,SeaWorld,Avenida Revolución,Rosarito, the area's beaches, and theFarmers Insurance Open are just some of the major tourist destinations in the conurbation. Mexico'sdrinking age of 18 andlegal and regulated prostitution make Tijuana a common weekend destination for many young Southern Californians andsex tourists.[69]
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Many largeluxury hotels lineSan Diego Bay and the coast ofPlayas de Tijuana. The bay and its marinas are surrounded by more thanfifteen hotels while historic buildings such asHotel del Coronado and Rosarito Beach Hotel lie on the Coronado peninsula and Rosarito coast. In Playas,Baja Mar, andBaja Malibu, several luxury hotels and condominiums can be found lining the coast in customarybeach resort fashion, including Park Towers and AQUA condominiums.[70]
TheNorth American Free Trade Agreement has a great influence on transborder trade in the San Diego–Tijuana economy. Of all the goods exchanged to the north 20% transported are destined for San Diego, 60% are destined for other California counties, and the remaining 20% are destined to other American states.[71] The metropolitan economy has become increasingly integrated as the NAFTA process has reduced trade and investment barriers which facilitates the trade and extensive sales services via cross-border exchange.[72] San Diego–Tijuana is a critical commercial link to the United States.[13][60] In Tijuana, companies that have established assembly plants in industrial parks referred to asmaquiladoras includeSony,Toyota,Samsung,Kodak, Matsushita/Panasonic,Nabisco,Philips,Pioneer,Plantronics,Pall Corporation,Tara Labs, andSanyo, while San Diego supports the expansion of its own industrial parks in Otay Mesa.[60] Additionally some of these companies, such as Samsung, source the development of items locally.[73]
Even prior to the implementation of NAFTA, Tijuana was home to many businesses selling products and services at a lower rate than in the United States. Today businesses such asauto detailing,medical services,dentistry andplastic surgery are heavily marketed and located near Tijuana's border with San Diego. In addition, there arehigh-tech firms andtelemarketing companies, includingMedtronic Inc., in the city.[74][75] This influx of companies is drawing skilled people from the United States with technical trades and college degrees to Tijuana transforming the city economy into a knowledge-based one.
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San Diego's primary light rail network is theSan Diego Trolley, operated by theSan Diego Metropolitan Transit System. The trolley system consist of five lines: theBlue Line which runs fromSan Ysidro Transit Center just north of the border toUTC Transit Center, theOrange Line which runs fromCourthouse station toSantee station, theGreen Line which runs from12th & Imperial Transit Center to Santee station throughMission Valley, theCopper Line which connectsEl Cajon Transit Center and Santee station, and theSilver Line which is a heritage streetcar line that runs in a loop indowntown San Diego.
San Diego is served by thePacific Surfliner, anAmtrak inter-city rail which terminates atSanta Fe Depot in downtown San Diego. San Diego is also served by theCOASTER, a commuter rail service that runs from downtown San Diego to Oceanside, operated by theNorth County Transit District. FromOceanside Transit Center, riders can either take theSPRINTER hybrid rail to Escondido,MetrolinkOrange County Line to downtown Los Angeles, or the MetrolinkSan Bernardino Line toSan Bernardino.
Plenty of free parking is available atStadium station on days whenSnapdragon Stadium is not hosting events, as well as several other stations throughout the system that havepark and rides. All trolley stations also provide connection points to MTS bus services, as MTS has designed the trolley to be the backbone of the local public transit system.
In Tijuana there is currently no public rail system, although, there is a system of buses that operate in the area. However, it was reported byThe San Diego Union-Tribune that San Diego officials desired that theCalifornia High-Speed Rail be extended to Tijuana andSouth Bay in order to capitalize on the potential economic benefits.[76] Additionally, there have been plans to extend the Blue Line into Tijuana proper.[77]
San Diego–Tijuana is at the junction of major interstates, state routes and federal highways. The region is at the terminus of ten majorInterstates andFederal Highways. Radiating to the east and south are connections to theImperial Valley,Mexicali Valley, and theArizona Sun Corridor viaInterstate 8, theInland Empire, theLas Vegas metropolitan area, andSalt Lake City viaInterstate 15;[78] and to the Greater Ensenada area viaFederal Highway 1D. To the north and west the area is connected to theLos Angeles metropolitan area,Northern California, andCascadia viaInterstate 5. Interstate 5 andFederal Highway 1 are critical highways for commercial and international trade due to their junction at theSan Ysidro Port of Entry, linking major industrial regions along theBritish Columbia Coast,West Coast of the United States, and theGold Coast of Baja California at the busiest port of entry in the world.[79] The metropolitan area is linked byFederal Highway 2 andState Route 111 toGulf of Mexico cities.[80]
Within the metropolitan region, there are many transportation routes viahighway. These includedInterstate 805, connectingTijuana toDel Mar.[81] Many highways have a terminus in South Bay and run north and west towards other agglomerations such as theInland Empire and Los Angeles metropolitan area.[82] State Routes that link to these urban areas includeState Route 79 andState Route 78. San Diego–Tijuana is linked to Ensenada by various ways as well; includingFederal Highway 3, Federal Highway 1 and Federal Highway 1D, running from the border cities of Tijuana andTecate to theCinderella of the Pacific.[83]
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In addition to the extensive highway system, the cities and regions within San Diego–Tijuana are interconnected by manystate routes as well.State Route 52 connects communities in northern San Diego,State Route 905 connects the Otay Mesa Port of Entry with South Bay cities,State Route 125 connects South Bay withEast County,State Route 94 connects South Bay with theMountain Empire, andState Route 78 connects North County Coastal with North County Inland, as well as to the mountain communities of the San Diego County Peninsular Ranges.
San Diego has a major network of roads, predominantly free Highways with several toll roads, and Interstates.Interstate 5 runs south from the Canadian-border city ofVancouver and terminates at the San Ysidro International border where it becomes Federal Highway 1. Another major freeway is Interstate 8 that runs west from theArizona Sun Corridor atCasa Grande, Arizona, and terminates atOcean Beach in San Diego. The roadway system inTijuana is very low end compared to the quality of streets in the United States. The majority of the roads are in desperate need of repair with many newly constructed off ramps being set up in an impractical method often requiring sharp and hard turns. When it comes to long-distance travel throughBaja California, many people use the toll roads that are well maintained and are at a standard comparable to that of U.S. roads.
San Diego–Tijuana's onlydeepwater port is both acontainer port andcruise ship destination. ThePort of San Diego has recreation terminals and docked ships at theMaritime Museum of San Diego, which is located at theEmbarcadero. The port is serviced by nine cruise lines includingCarnival Cruise Line andRoyal Caribbean International. A new cruise terminal was recently constructed at the Port to compensate for the increased levels of maritime tourism.
Cargo andcontainer terminals are located to the south of the Embarcadero where two marine cargo facilities are administered. The Port of San Diego was ranked by the United States'Bureau of Transportation Statistics as one of America's top 30 U.S.container ship ports in 2007. The port also serves as the primary port of entry for larger car corporations includingHonda,Volkswagen, andNissan into the United States of America. ThePort of Ensenada also serves as a transport point where cruise ships arrive and depart from Southern Californian, European, and Central American ports.[84] Cargo arriving at the Port of Ensenada is also transported to the metropolitan region via theTijuana-Ensenada Freeway.[85]
ThePort of Punta Colonet is being planned as an alternative port to the West Coast ports of the United States and Canada;[86] though the port is not without its negative environmental impacts.[87] 150 miles (240 km) south of Tijuana, the port is intended to compete with the twin ports ofLong Beach andLos Angeles,[88] Once completed the port would serve as the primary dock for Asian vessels unloading shipping containers.[88] and would have a 200-mile (320 km) rail line to San Diego–Tijuana.
San Diego–Tijuana is served by of two majorinternational airports:San Diego International Airport andTijuana International Airport (General Abelardo L. Rodríguez), and one regional airportMcClellan–Palomar Airport (Carlsbad).
San Diego International Airport is located 3 mi (4.8 km) northwest of Centre City and 20 mi (32 km) from Tijuana. Operated by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority,[89] the airport is the busiest single-runwaycommercial airport in the world. SAN served 22,009,921 in 2021. As of June 2023, San Diego International Airport is served by 16 passenger airlines.[90]
In 2022 the Tijuana International Airport served 12,324,600 passengers. It is the fourth busiest airport in Mexico and serves as the focus city forAeroméxico. TheCross Border Xpress consists of a pedestrian toll bridge which directly links the terminal in Mexico with the CBX terminal on the U.S. side – the only airport in the world with terminals on the territory of two countries.
McClellan-Palomar Airport is located near the central business district of Carlsbad, serving North County. However, the airport does not currently have any passenger service.
The top ten flights in 2022 to 2023 from all three airports were toMexico City with 1,191,875 passengers,Guadalajara with 1,068,321 passengers,Las Vegas with 837,000 passengers,Denver with 704,000 passengers,San Jose with approximately 661,000 passengers,Sacramento with 654,000 passengers,Phoenix with 641,000 passengers,San Francisco with 625,000,Seattle/Tacoma with 610,000 passengers,Dallas/Fort Worth with 532,000 passengers.[91][92]
In 2002, according to theSan Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the number of trucks driving north through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry numbered over 725,710, representing approximately $20 billion worth of freight.[71] Over time congestion has increased as the population of the region has grown at a high rate. San Diego and Tijuana have both begun collaborative renovation plans in order to ease border congestion.[93] TheSan Ysidro Land Port of Entry Expansion Project involves adding ten lanes to the San Ysidro border crossing and the creation of the El Chaparral Port of Entry.[94] Another plan includes adding an extra border crossing to the east of Otay Mesa with completion estimated for the year 2015.[95] Projects such as these will attempt to reduce the loss of millions of dollars per day due to waiting at the border.[93]
There are currently threeports of entry serving the metropolitan region. The San Ysidro Port of Entry/El Chaparral expansion projects, and the opening of the newOtay Mesa East Port of Entry, will add significant capacity. The most trafficked port of entry is theSan Ysidro Port of Entry—the busiest international crossing in the world. It serves as the primary entry point for the commuting populace of the metropolitan region. TheCross Border Xpress pedestrian border crossing, which opened December 9, 2015, is for the exclusive use of ticketed passengers atTijuana International Airport. Further east, theOtay Mesa Port of Entry deals with high volumes of commercial traffic as it is located in the manufacturing zone of the region. The Otay Mesa Port accounts for billions of dollars worth of product.[71] Further east, the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry is planned. And the farthest east, theTecate Port of Entry is the smallest port of entry and is not designed for dealing with large volumes of traffic as it follows a long winding road through theMountain Empire.
Many businesses in South Bay offer Mexican car insurance on a short-term, prepaid basis. Most large car rental companies in San Diego do permit their vehicles to be taken across the border but generally require a hefty fee, sometimes costing more than the rental, for Mexican auto insurance. Visitors to the region should note that automobile insurance does not travel across the international border. Vehicles registered in Mexico may also require separate insurance for use in the United States. In California Automobile insurance is required by the State.
The region is home to over twenty higher education schools including numerous universities, private, and state colleges and maintains an excellent educational infrastructure.[96] Tijuana is home to high ranked national colleges and universities and San Diego is ninth most educated city in the United States.[97]
Notable schools included theAutonomous University of Baja California (Tijuana campus);Ibero-American University (Tijuana campus);CETYS University (Tijuana campus);University of San Diego (USD);San Diego State University (SDSU);University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego);California Western School of Law; andThomas Jefferson School of Law. Of the colleges in San Diego–Tijuana, UC San Diego is the highest ranked college; ranking as 14th best university in the world by theAcademic Ranking of World Universities and in 2010 ranking as the top university in the United States by theWashington Monthly.[98]
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Telephonic communication between the two cities requiresinternational calling. To call Tijuana from the United States, "011" (the USinternational call prefix) must be dialed followed by Mexico'scountry calling code "52"; to call San Diego from Mexico, "00" (theITU prefix) must be dialed followed by "1" (theNorth American Numbering Plan calling code). Then the caller will in both cases proceed to dial thearea code and thelocal number.
San Diego County Area Codes
Tijuana Metro Area Codes
Limited San Diego television channels are included in Mexican cable in Tijuana and Ensenada.
Broadcasting is shared between the two cities as necessary, as is the case along both land U.S. borders.Frequency coordination means that allbroadcast stations must be approved by both countries before making any major changes. In this case, approval is required by theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. andFederal Telecommunications Institute in Mexico. Additionally, the FCC requires a permit to supply programming to a foreign broadcaster for transmission back into the U.S.
Cooperative frequency coordination between both city regions is quite common; an example isXETV-TV 6, a Tijuana-based television station used to target audiences in San Diego until its US-based studio closure in 2017, where theK being replaced by theX as an indicator that it is a Mexican-licensed station. These stations were not required to shut down theirNTSCanalog TV operations in June 2009, as full-powered FCC-licensed stations must. In 2007, abill in theU.S. Congress called theDTV Border Fix Act was introduced, which would have allowed all stations in San Diego, and all television stations within 80 kilometers (50 mi) of the Mexican border, to keep their analog signals active for another five years, delaying thetelevision transition that the rest of the United States would be going through; while the bill passed the Senate, it did not pass the House.[99]
Prior to the 2017 rules change by the FCC, San Diego was the largestmedia market in the United States that was legally unable to support aduopoly between two full-power television stations; under the 1999 order, duopolies were not allowed in any U.S. market with fewer than nine full-power stations and once a duopoly is formed, there must be eight unique station owners that remain in a single market. The California side of the market does not fall under either requirement as there are only seven full-power stations in that part of the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. Though two sister stations existed (theE. W. Scripps Company group of KGTV and KZSD-LD, and theNBC Owned Television Stations group of KNSD and KUAN-LD), they are not considered duopolies under the FCC's legal definition as common ownership between full-power andlow-power television stations in the same market is permitted regardless to the number of stations licensed to the area. On November 20, 2017, the FCC eliminated the "Eight-Voices Test" requirement, allowing media companies to form duopolies regardless of the number of full-powered stations licensed to each market.[100] The decision allowedNexstar Media Group, owner of Fox affiliateKSWB-TV, to purchase independent stationKUSI-TV from McKinnon Broadcasting on May 8, 2023;[101] the transaction was completed on August 31, creating the first legal duopoly in San Diego.[102]
The Mexico-licensed stations in the market are not subject to the duopoly rules as two or more full-power television stations are allowed to be owned by the same company under Mexican telecommunications law (American-basedTelevisaUnivision owns three stations in Tijuana: XETV-TV,XHUAA-TV andXEWT-TV, whileEntravision Communications andTV Azteca each own two stations:XHAS-TV andXHDTV-TV, andXHJK-TV andXHTIT-TV, respectively).
On radio, relaying programming across the border is even more common, with stations likeXHITZ-FM 90.3 andXHMORE-FM 98.9 being programmed by U.S. broadcast groups, while being owned by Mexican companies (as required under Mexican law) and operating under Mexicanbroadcast law. Other American stations relayed via Mexico throughlocal marketing agreements (LMAs) areXEPE AM 1700,XEPRS AM 1090 andsimulcastXHPRS-FM 105.7,XESPN AM 800,XESURF AM 540,XETRA FM 91.1,XHRM FM 92.5,XEWW-AM 690,XHA-FM 94.5,XHFG-FM 107.3,XHGLX-FM 91.7,XHLNC-FM 104.9, andXHTY-FM 99.7. All of these stations are authorized to simulcast digitally inHD Radio, as are other stations within 320 kilometers (200 mi) of the U.S. border.[103]
Because many stations in thereserved band (FM below 92 MHz) are used by Mexican stations, other specific allotments are reserved fornon-commercial educational (NCE) radio stations in the San Diego area. However, the lack of such allotments still leaves the area with nocollege radio stations available except viaInternet radio,cable radio,LPAM, andTV SAP. These areKCR fromSan Diego State University, andKSDT from theUniversity of California, San Diego.
Under Mexican law, radio stations located in Mexico must broadcast the Mexican National Anthem twice daily and broadcast public affairs programLa Hora Nacional on Sunday evenings.
The metropolitan region has developed many utilities which have primary focus on energy and environmental health. A focal point of cross-border environmental relations is the care of the Tijuana River Estuary. TheInternational Boundary Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWTP) was developed by theInternational Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) as a joint project between the US and Mexico in the mid-1990s following substantial environmental studies regarding the polluting effects of the river system from run-off and untreated water on the Tijuana side of the border region.[104] The facility now treats sewage flows exceeding the capacity of the present Tijuana sewage treatment system.[105] The plant directly assists in the restoration of the Tijuana River Valley.[105] Another collaborative effort between the two cities was theenvironmentally friendly development of paved roads – created by placing concrete blocks on dirt roads – in the San Bernardo neighborhood of northwestern Tijuana.[106] Whilst being a good example for overall development of Tijuana, it served to retain water in the earth and prevented possible negative impacts from floodwater.
San Diego–Tijuana relies heavily on water from theColorado River.[71] Approximately half of San Diego–Tijuana's fresh water is used for non-drinking purposes, includinglandscapeirrigation,commercial enterprise, and industrial processing.[71] Methods such assaltwaterdesalination provides options for obtainingfresh water. Cities in the metropolitan region such as Carlsbad have begun desalination projects of their own, without a bi-national conference. TheCarlsbad desalination plant is the largest desalination plant in the United States. It was opened in December 2015, and produces 50-million gallons a day; enough water to supply 10% of San Diego region residents with drinking water.[107]
The policies shared between San Diego and Tijuana are addressed in a binational way as the effects of actions on one side of the border, with regard to infrastructure, are felt on the neighboring side.[108] In the past decade San Diego–Tijuana has developed new cooperative strategies to make energy consumption more efficient and effectively supply energy.[109] In 2000Sempra Energy constructed anatural gas pipeline to provide energy to athermal power plant in Rosarito; also the principle plant in Baja California.[109][110] The region was able to reduce levels ofair pollution substantially when the conversion to a natural gas fired electrical generation facility was completed.[109][110] In the Baja California subregions,unleaded gasoline has also replaced leaded fuel as means for transportation, helping regional air quality.[109] The new strategies also included plans that worked with the nearby capital of Mexicali, where the pipeline shared between the two states was constructed to supply natural gas to its metropolitan area with energy supplied by Sempra and Proxima.[109] Sempra Energy has been applauded for its initial development of this cross-border infrastructure.[111]
On April 19, 2011, it was reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune thatSan Diego Gas & Electric signed a twenty-year deal withSempra Generation to obtain power generated by the Energia Sierra Juarez Project, a wind farm of 450wind turbines, taking up an area predominantly in the Tecate region of Baja California larger thanAnza Borrego Desert State Park.[112] Energia Sierra Juarez is slated for construction in 2012, though the deal has yet to be approved by theCalifornia Public Utilities Commission.[112]
The sister cities of the metropolitan region have a complex and rich cultural exchange. The binational art communities are the most progressive yet least funded when compared to other international communities.[113]
The cultural activities present on both sides of the border provide artists a benefited cultural activity sector. Art organizations on both sides of the border have binational programs.Mainly Mozart (Festival Binacional de Mozart) performs, for both cities of California and Baja California, with internationally known musicians and orchestras.[113] In San Diego, the Opera's Ensemble tours the metropolitan region every year performing over 150 performances in the regions educational institutions, cultural centers, and concert venues.[113] Additionally, theMuseum of Contemporary Art San Diego actively promotes the binational arts culture in the area and has displayed exhibitions highlighting the border experience.[113]
The metropolitan region has become a magnet for artists from abroad.Musicians andvisual artists fromRussia, Mexico, andEastern Europe are now found in organizations such as theOrchestra of Baja California.[113]
The cultural region is the home of many museums and landmarks. The regions cultural institutions and landmarks are in part comprised by the many institutions ofBalboa Park, Tijuana Cultural Center, theMaritime Museum of San Diego – a collection of large historic American vessels,Cabrillo National Monument,Christ of the Sacred Heart,Mission San Diego de Alcalá,Mission San Luis Rey de Francia,Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, and museum atSan Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park. Local beach culture is in part represented by theCalifornia Surf Museum.
In a region whereMexican traditional culture andAmerican contemporary culture clash, native artists benefit from the manifested diverse cultural influences.[113]
Tijuana's adjacent location to San Diego fuels its intrigue for artists and art curators.[113] A growing number of artists and musicians have begun challenging the sometimes negative stereotype of Tijuana through exhibitions displaying the city as a place of contingency and creativity.[113] San Diego–Tijuana has been considered "one of the hottest interfaces between first and third worlds."[114] Artists attraction to San Diego–Tijuana's arts and culture scene was accredited by theTucson Weekly to the environment created by one of the richest and most developed cities – San Diego – border proximity to a oncethird world type city – Tijuana.[115]
Food in the region has been greatly attributed from its position on the US-Mexican border. The region has also been influenced by immigrants who migrated to the area.
The region is also home to many wineries and craft breweries scattered throughout the region, withSan Diego's craft brewery industry, Tijuana's proximity to the wineries inValle de Guadalupe, and Tecate'sCerveza Tecate owned byCuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery. Tijuana and Tecate's growth could be attributed to the influx of American alcohol tourism in the 1920s to evade theUS prohibition of alcohol.
The culture of San Diego–Tijuana is international andcosmopolitan, reflecting the values of each city. Tijuana's emerging vibrant culture scene plays and undeniable role in the art enrichment of its neighborhoods.[113] The metropolitan regions southern anchor city, Tijuana, was identified byNewsweek International as one of the top eight creative cities in the world.[113] It was recognized for its amalgamation of traditional MexicanNorteño music by cities as far away asTokyo andBerlin.[116] Berlin'sHaus der Kulturen der Welt attributed Tijuana as the "cradle ofMexican rock... where the music of the future is being born in Mexico."[117] According to Britain'sGuardian Newspaper, "Tijuana is in the middle of an artistic flowering in which artists are re-examining the city's hybrid binational culture."[118] Tijuana has been gaining recognition as a culinary center for theBaja Med fusion cuisine.[119]
In the five years prior to 2004 Tijuana's visual arts were sought out by European exhibitions, and received notable focus from Germany. An international exhibition in Hamburg titledUnlikely Encounters in Urban Space portrayed the developed environment in Eastern Tijuana as well as inNew Delhi,Mar de Plata,Milan, Berlin,Munich, andHamburg.[120]
Additionally, the metropolitan area is home to many cultural enclaves from around the world not including American and Mexican enclaves they have of each other.
The most prominent sports in the area arebaseball andassociation football. San Diego is the home of theSan Diego Padres ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) andSan Diego FC ofMajor League Soccer (MLS). Tijuana is the home ofClub Tijuana ofLiga MX and theToros de Tijuana of theMexican League (LMB).
Watersports andboardsports form a large part of San Diego–Tijuana sports culture.Sailing is popular in theSan Diego Bay andMission Bay areas. The San Diego–Ensenada International Yacht Race is hosted by Southwestern Yacht Club of San Diego.[121] The region is known for its avidsurfing scene; well-known destinations includeSwami's andBaja Malibu.[122][123][124]
In a sign of binational friendship, San Diegans – Team USA – and Tijuanenses – Team Mexico – played in a friendly game of "bordervolleyball" atBorder Field State Park, in which volleyballs were passed over the international border fence splitting the beach.[125] This was the first game of international border volleyball and garnered national media attention.[125]
In the mid-2000s, the Binational Organizing Committee (BiNOC) of San Diego–Tijuana made it known that the sister-cities were interested in making a bid for the2016 Summer Olympics.[126] The proposed bid intentionally rivaledLos Angeles' bid for the 2016 games.[126][127] However, theU.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) decided against the binational bid.[128]
The Port of San Diego is 's fastest-growing port in terms of cruise ship dockings, and the second largest behind the Port of Los Angeles... ...The dockings are estimated to have an economic impact of more than $2 million on the local economy from the purchase of food, supplies and fuel, as well as maintenance services.
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